Case washer apparatus



Feb. 11, 1969 R. A. YATUNI 3,426,773

CASE WASHER APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1966 Sheet of 5 .INVENTOR. gm Ma/vo H. YZQTUN/ Feb. 11, 1969 R. A. YATUNl CASE WASHER APPARATUS Sheet Feb, 11, 1969 R. A. YATUNl 3,426,773

CASE WASHER APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1966 Sheet 3 of 5 1 5m?- 6. I 4015. A a. 6.

I N VENTOR. BQYMONO Hrwv/ United States Patent 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A case washer of the recirculating type having a manifold for jetting cleaning solution against cases to be washed, said manifold being constructed to direct a plurality of cleaning solution spray patterns which vary transversely of the path of advancement of the cases through the washer.

This invention has to do with washer apparatus for the cleaning of cases and carriers, particularly plastic soda and beer cases and the interfitting six pack carriers sometimes associated with such cases. More particularly, the invention is concerned with case washer apparatus affording an increased number of different patterns of spray impingement along a normal wash cycle length to enable washing action of increased efficiency by providing between successive irnpingements both adequate cleaning solution dwell time on the case surfaces and adequate drainage time, so that scrubbing action from successive impingements is not masked by residual surface water.

The invention provides a case washer apparatus of the recirculating type having a manifold for jetting cleaning solution against cases to be washed, which manifold is constructed to direct a plurality of cleaning solution spray patterns which diverge transversely of the path of advancement of the cases through the apparatus and which patterns vary transversely of the path.

For many years bottled beverages such as soda and beer, have been distributed in cases of 12 or 24 units. These units have in the past been carried in wooden boxes which were seldom cleaned. The advent of new plastic materials, particularly rubber modified styrene polymers and olefin polymers, particularly high density polyethylenes, which combine attractive colors, low weight, high rigidity and greater durability than wood has provided bottlers with a case material of superior properties. Because of the generally light, more attractive coloration of these cases and their longer service life, cleaning of the cases between trips is now an important consideration. Many types of soil are encountered in normal use and despite the general inertness of these plastic surfaces to chemicals, a combination of case surface smoothness characteristics and material electrostatics makes soiling a common occurrence.

It is an object, accordingly, of the present invention to provide a case washer apparatus useful to remove stubborn soil from cases. It is a further object to provide apparatus which separately washes cases and interfitting six pack carriers, also of plastic, commonly used with soda cases. It is a further object to provide a case washer apparatus which over an ordinary length of cleaning path provides a varying pattern of spray thereby to increases cleaning stripes, that portion of case surface directly impinged by the cleaning solution jetted from the apparatus and greatly to reduce holidays or areas of non-impingement.

Accordingly, the invention provides a case washer apparatus comprising an elongated housing having a chamber therein, a sump in the bottom of the housing below the chamber, means for supporting a succession of cases for advancement through the chamber, means for pumping Ice cleaning solution from the sump and means for jetting the solution against the cases in spray patterns varying transversely of the path of advancement of the cases, wherein a particular embodiment of the jetting means includes a manifold provided with a plurality of jetting orifices arranged to spray streams which diverge transversely of the chamber, which jetting orifices are successively angularly displaced along the manifold at least about one degree.

The invention will now be more fully described as to an illustrative embodiment thereof in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view in section of the case washer apparatus; 7

FIG. 2 is a view of the apparatus taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a horizontal manifold of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the horizontal manifold taken on line 55 in FIG. 4 showing a first spray stream angle;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 5 showing a second counterclockwise rotated spray stream angle; taken on line 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is also a view like FIG. 5 but taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 4 showing a further counterclockwise rotated spray stream angle;

FIG. 8 is further cross-sectional view of the horizontal manifold taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but taken on line 9-9 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the vertical manifold; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the case washer is shown to comprise a generally rectangular structure, housing 10, standing on feet 11 having Walls 12 made of sheet metal or other suitable material and desirably provided wtih insulation 14 to minimize cleaning solution heat loss. Two parallel horizontal paths indicated at 16a and 16b are provided through the housing for travel of cases 18 and carriers 20 respectively, Paths 16a and 16b extend through chambers 22a and 22b in the housing. Within these chambers are arranged cleaning solution jetting devices including overlying horizontal manifolds 24a and 24b, underlying horizontal manifolds 26a and 26b and vertical manifolds 28a and 28b. A succession of cases 18 is urged by means not shown, such as by hand or by automatic conveying system across apron 21a into chamber 22a and along path 16a. The cases are supported during advancement along path 16a on track 30, suitably rollers or sheet metal strips secured between supports 32 and spaced to allow spray streams therebetween. A rail 34a supported by member 27 on either side of the track 30 serves to guide the cases through the chamber. Case take-off, once through the washer, from apron 31a is by hand or automatic handling equipment (not shown).

Superimposed above chamber 22a is chamber 22b. Carriers 20 are urged across apron 21b onto path 16b within the chamber by means, not shown, such as by hand or by an automatic conveying system. The carriers are supported during advancement along path 16b on rails 36 on which the carriers are maintained by guide rails 34b, supported by member 37, against lateral shifting as well as upward vertical movement from the force of cleaning solution impingement from manifold 26b.

Cleaning solution is maintained in sump 38, a steam jacketed sheet metal tank in the bottom of housing 10 below the chambers 22a and 22b. Drain surfaces 40a of tray 41 below the lower chamber and 40b on baflie 42 between chambers direct return flow of used cleaning solution to the sump for recirculating following reheating and recharging with detergent if necessary. The cleaning solution, heated to elevated temperatures by steam introduced into jacket 42 along line 43 is drawn from the sump along lines 44 and pumped along lines 45 by pump 46 to the manifolds where the cleaning solution is jetted, as hereinafter described.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal manifold 26b, which is typical of the horizontal manifolds of the present invention comprises longitudinally extending pipe sections 48 to underlie (or overlie) the path of advancement of the cases or carriers. Although a pair of pipe sections are shown, one or three or more pipe sections can be employed. Transverse pipe sections 50 are interconnected to longitudinal pipe sections to further distribute the cleaning solution. As best shown in FIG. 1, vertical manifolds 28a and 28b are also provided intercommunicating with the horizontal manifolds to impinge cleaning solution laterally on cases or carriers.

The manifolds in the present invention jet the pumped cleaning solution through a plurality of small orifices 52 which, in the vertical manifolds, are uniformly spaced in parallel rows for maximum drilling feasibility and which, in the horizontal manifold, particularly in the lonigtudinal pipe sections thereof are carefully arranged as to interval, pitch and drill angle to result in a predetermined pattern of spray streams for maximum effectiveness.

As outlined above, cleaning of difficultly washable surfaces such as molded olefin polymer surfaces which carry tenacious soils imposes special requirements on washing apparatus. Wash cycles, over any reasonable length of path where streams are impinged in an unvarying sequence, provide too little dwell time between successive impingements for effective cleaning. Moreover on upward facing horizontal surfaces, excess retained solution can impede the scrubbing action otherwise imparted by the direct contact of the high velocity spray stream and the bare surface of the case or carrier.

Accordingly, this invention provides spray stream patterns and spray cycle intervals which enable both adequate dwell time for removal of soil from plastic surfaces and adequate drainage time on ventral surfaces to permit impingement of subsequent streams directly onto the soiled case surface.

The basic means for thus controlling dwell interval and facilitating scrubbing action on cases is the horizontal manifold 26b. Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, this manifold is ported at A, B, C, D and E with ranks of five apertures 54 which jet the cleaning solution. It will be noted that the midpoint of each rank shifts with respect to the axis of the pipe 48 in proceeding from rank A through ranks B, C and D to rank E. The effect of this shift on spray pattern dispersion angle is seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Rank A (FIG. having apertures 54a each spaced degrees apart, has its leftmost aperture 75 from the horizontal 56. In rank C (FIG. 6) the aperture pattern is rotated 730 counterclockwise so that the leftmost aperture 540 is 67 30' from the horizontal. In rank E (FIG. 7), the pattern is rotated an additional 730 counterclockwise, so that the leftmost aperture 54e is 60 from the horizontal. The intermediate ranks B and D are at intermediate angular displacement. Following rank E the cycle is repeated or extended depending on the interval required in the washing problem.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the spray pattern interrelationship is illustrated. It will be noted the adjacent longitudinal members 48 are spaced and/or ported to jet not quite intersecting spray streams and preferably to impinge jets onto contiguous portions of the case or carrier surface. In this manner the cleaning zones or stripes are coterminous and no uncleaned zones or holidays remain after a wash cycle.

To illustrate the advantageous arrangement of jets in accordance with the present invention over previous proposals an array of 25 jets will be considered. In the prior art these jets are arranged uniformly in five ranks of five files ranks being transverse to the manifold longitudinal axis and files being parallel to the longitudinal axis. With this rectilinear arrangement, each rank of jets will impinge only replicate stripes of cleaning solution on the case advancing therepast since the path of advancement of the case is along the lonigtudinal axis of the manifold and the case extends constantly equidistantly from the sides thereof. Replication of cleaning strips b successive ranks over a single cycle is avoided in the present invention by successive ranks being rotationally indexed e.g. by an incremental radial angle Y and distances between ranks being selected so as to have, in a preferred embodiment, no duplication of jet angle and consequently no duplicationof a cleaning stripe within a cycle. In a 25 jet array, then, the present invention provides 25 different, closely spaced and parallel cleaning stripes rather than only 5 replicated cleaning stripes. The holidays between lines of impingement of individual jets then are reduced to /5 those occurring with replicating patterns.

The jets can be variously arranged to afford these benefits. As illustrated in the drawing, vertical ranks of, preferably, equal size jets are spaced along the manifold pipe, preferably but not necessarily equidistantly for the length of one cycle L on the manifold pipe.

Optionally, the ranks can be rotated to an angle R less than The effect of such rotation is to provide greater distances between adjacent jets to facilitate fabrication but to retain the multiplicity of cleaning stripes.

Further rotating of the ranks, ultimately to files, can be accomplished, but in so rotating, the width of holidays narrows only until a certain angle, R is reached and then the holidays increase in width until the undesirable prior art pattern is reached. Rotation of ranks, therefore, should be no greater than the angle R At this angle the ranke are alined to define a continuous, helical line of jets.

Engineering considerations determine the number of jets per cycle (assumed to be equal in size) and this number, N is generally in the range of 10-170. The number of cycles and the radial angle Y of coverage by the complete cycle is similarly determined by engineering factors. In general, Y will be in the range of 10-170. The radial index angle, Y then between banks is determined from the relation and is generally in the range of 1-10 and preferably 2-3.

For a given number of jets per cycle the number of ranks, B, and the number of files, I, can be factored out. In factoring N =BJ, the closest pair of values for B and J, preferabl equal values, is selected. For example in Mathematical Tables, 7th Ed., Chemical Rubber Publishing Co. (1941) pp. 208-215, prime numbers between 10 and are shown to be widely spaced with never two adjacent. Should, in a particular instance, the N following from engineering requirements be a prime, unfactorable number, N can be altered, e.g. :5 to a conveniently factorable value without unduly affecting the unit performance.

To illustrate there follows four specific examples in which a computation for various values of N was made for values of N of assuming the manifold length, L to be 36 inches and its O.D., D, to be 1.5 inches and R thus to be Optional solutions where possible are indicated in each example by lower case letters.

EXAMPLE 1 N =BJ =25 X 5 Y 72 Y 3 B 5 J 5 Y =BY 1s YB=(J1)YJ 6O Bl )Y 12 Y +(B1)Y =Y 72 R 1.5 Pitch angle 88.5

EXAMPLE 2 N =BI =24 2 .3 c 46 Y; 2

b c d e f g B (ranks) 2 8 4 6 8 12 J (files) 12 8 6 4 3 2 YJ=BYI 4 6 8 12 16 24 YB (J-1)YJ- 44 42 40 36 32 24 (B 1)Y 2 4 6 14 22 Y'B-l-(B -1) Yr= Ye 46 46 48 46 46 46 Rex-it .96". Pitch angle 89.04.

EXAMPLE 3 N =BJ =32 2 Y 93 Y 3 a b c d e 1 2 4 8 16 32 16 8 4 2 3 6 12 24 48 93 90 84 72 48 (B 1)Y1 0 3 9 21 45 Ya+(B-1)Y;=Y 93 93 93 93 98 R ....=1.94. Pitch ang1e=88.06.

EXAMPLE 4 N =BJ=96 2 .3 Y 95 Y 1 a b c d e i g h i j k l B (ranks) 1 2 3 4 6 8 12 16 24 32 48 96 J' (files)- 96 48 32 24 16 12 8 6 4 3 2 1 Y1.... 1 2 3 4 6 8 12 16 24 32 48 96 YB 95 94 93 92 90 88 84 80 72 64 48 0 (B -1) Y1. 0 1 2 3 5 7 11 23 31 47 95 YB+(B1)YI=Yu 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 Pitch angle=88.02.

The lateral portions of the horizontal manifold 24 or 26a and b, namely pipes 50 are provided with angularly displaced jets 52 aimed at the cases or carriers as can be seen in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9 to provide additional cleaning solution impingement.

Vertical manifolds 28a and 28b are positioned throughout the chamber to jet cleaning solution against the sides of the cases (and carriers, if a two level apparatus). The arrangement of jetting apertures 52 in the vertical manifold is not critical, with any convenient arrangement offering a multiplicity of jetting streams which diverge to give a plurality of scrubbing impingements on the sides of the case able to be used. A typical vertical manifold 28 is shown in FIG. 10 with apertures 52, arranged as shown in FIG. 11.

In operation of the apparatus, sump 38 is partly filled with aqueous detergent cleaning solution 39. Steam is introduced into the sump jacket 42 along line 43 to heat the water to suitable temperature, e.g. F. Pumps 46 pump the cleaning solution through the jetting system including vertical manifolds 28a and b longitudinal horizontal manifold pipes 48 and lateral horizontal manifold pipes 50. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, cleaning solution is directed at the underside and topside of the cases 18 and carriers 20 from the horizontal manifold pipes. Similarly, cleaning solution is jetted from the vertical manifolds onto the case sides. Jetted solution in the superposed second chamber 22b falls from the carrier surfaces onto baflle 42 supported between the upper and lower chambers to prevent used cleaning solution from falling on the cases below and to divert the solution through clearances 58 to the sump. It will be noted no insulation is used in the bafiie; this enables good heat transfer between the chambers and thus warmer, more effective cleaning solution. Steam rising from the cleaning solution is collected in vapor space 60 and vented to the atmosphere through stack 62.

Used solution from the superposed chambers cascades down the interiors of walls 12 and with used solution from the lower chamber is collected on tray 41 and returned to the sump through screen 64 where solid matter is separated. In the sump the cleaning solution is reheated or recharged as necessary for recirculation to the jetting devices.

I claim:

1. Case washer apparatus comprising an elongated housing having a chamber therein, a sump in the bottom of the housing below the chamber, means supporting a succession of cases for advancement along a longitudinally extending path through the chamber, means for pumping cleaning solution from the sump and means for jetting the solution against the cases, successive jetting means being relatively angularly disposed to at least about 1 and not less than a predetermined critical angle whereby spray patterns are successively varied transversely of the path of advancement of the cases.

2. Case Washer as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for jetting the cleaning solution comprises a manifold overlying the path.

3. Case washer as claimed in claim 2 in which a plurality of manifolds overlie the path to jet streams of cleaning solution defining a multiplicity of cleaning stripes on the case surface.

4. Case washer as claimed in claim 2 in which an additional manifold is provided underlying the path.

5. Case washer as claimed in claim 1 including also a superposed second chamber housing means for advancing a succession of carriers through the second chamber and means for pumping cleaning solution from the sump and means for jetting the solution against the carriers.

6. Case washer as claimed in claim 1 in which the cleaning solution impinged on the cases drains into the sump for recirculation.

7. Case washer as claimed in claim 6 in which the means for jetting the cleaning solution comprises a manifold overlying the path.

8. Case washer as claimed in claim 7 in which a plurality of manifolds is provided each having a plurality of jetting orifices arranged to spray streams which define a multiplicity of contiguous stripes on the case vertical surfaces.

9. Case washer as claimed in claim 8 in which the jetting orifices are grouped into a series of ranks and Suecessively are progressively angularly displaced between 1 and 3 to vary the spray pattern of the cleaning solution transversely of the chamber along the path of case ad-' vancement.

10. Case washer as claimed in claim 8 including also a superposed second chamber having therein means for supporting a succession of carriers for advancement through the chamber and means for pumping cleaning solution from the sump and means for jetting the solution against the carriers.

11. Case washer as claimed in claim 10 including also 10 guide means along the carrier path to retain the carriers on said path against the force of impinging cleaning solution.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT L BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,426,773 February 11, 1969 Raymond A. Yatuni It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 44, "disposed" should read displaced line 45, cancel "not".

Signed and sealed this 24th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

